Winter driving in West Michigan can include ice, snow, sleet and slush with little to no warning it’s coming but Summer driving offers its own set of challenges. While it is nice to not have to worry about icy or slippery roads during the summer months, these hazards of summer driving can increase your risk of an accident if you are not careful.

Flats

As the warm weather increases, the air inside tires expands and can create problems for tires that are overinflated and already damaged. In addition, an increase of weight loads from pulling trailers and boats can cause a strain to tires that aren’t in their best shape. Stay proactive by checking your tires regularly for their condition and pressure to make sure they are in good condition to avoid ending up with a flat tire while driving.

Construction

You know the saying, there are few guarantees in life except death, taxes and road construction in West Michigan. Summer is definitely the season of orange barrels and road closures! But all those detours and delays can be more than annoying, they can be accidents waiting to happen. The hard facts are that 4,908 crashes took place in 2016 alone and sadly 17 fatalities during the course of that timeframe in construction zones which should capture your attention and bring to light how serious driving through these zones can be. To save yourself from becoming another one of the statistics, follow these helpful tips… slow down while driving in construction zones, follow posted speed limits, remove all distractions including phone use and pay attention to traffic shifts and patterns, allow for extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of you, avoid any unnecessary lane changes and merge in a timely matter.

Inclement Weather

Bad weather is not unique to winter in Grand Rapids. Heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms can lead to difficult driving with the increased risk of hydroplaning, lack of visibility and flash flooding. If you find yourself caught in a storm, it’s important to reduce speed, increase following distance and discontinue use of cruise control which increases the risk of hydroplaning.

Overheating

When driving in hot climates, high temperatures can aggravate cooling system problems too. It’s important to check the coolant and cooling system regularly to avoid overheating as well as paying attention to any dummy lights that may be registering on your dashboard.

Gravel/Dirt Roads

It may be surprising to many drivers but dirt roads and gravel roads can be just as slippery and hazardous as driving on ice. Because dirt and gravel surfaces are full of loose materials, it is much easier for tires to lose their traction and in turn, the vehicle above them to lose control. High speeds and quick manoeuvers on gravel roads are ingredients for disaster. Even really well-maintained gravel roads tend to have rough sections and loose gravel that require lower speeds. In fact, most accidents on them can be prevented simply by slowing down.

Farm Equipment

It’s not unusual in rural areas such as in Hastings, Wayland and Caledonia for drivers to cross paths with farm equipment driving on the road which can create an unsafe situation for both the driver of the vehicle and the farm equipment. If you live, work or commute through an area populated with farm fields, drive with caution, especially during planting and harvest seasons. Slow down as soon as you see a tractor or similar type vehicle and watch for any hand signals they may be use to indicate they are turning before trying to pass.

Congestion

With summer comes vacations both on the weekends and during the weekdays. With all those added travelers on the road, combined with the dreaded construction zones on popular roadways, leads to traffic jams and gridlock. Heavy traffic conditions contribute to difficult driving conditions, and with many of these drivers being unfamiliar with the roads and areas only adds to erratic driving in general. When you find yourself in these situations, take a deep breath and remember that arriving safely is the number one goal.

Cyclists/Motorcyclists

With the warm and drier weather, comes the opportunity for people who love to experience the open road on two wheels to finally get out and ride their motorcycle or bicycle for their daily commutes. As a smaller profile vehicle, both cyclists and motorcyclists are much more challenging to see while driving, while additionally offering them far less protection in the event of an accident compared to their four-wheel counterparts. Because of this, Michigan law has recently been changed to provide cyclists 3 feet of safe space when a vehicle will be passing them on the road as well as programs aimed to increase driver’s awareness of these at-risk vehicles.

If you want to find a reliable, safe vehicle and are looking to skip the stressful and difficult hurdles you can run into at other dealerships we invite you to check out our current inventory of Used Trucks, Vans, SUVs, Cars, Commercial Vans and Work Trucks. At Broadmoor Motors Wayland, we specialize in finding the right used minivan, truck, SUV or car to fit your personal or business needs, all while giving you the best deal we can on both your purchase and trade in. Our family has been in the car business for over 60 years and continues to be family owned and operated in our Hastings, Wayland and Caledonia locations with financing available to those who qualify. We will find you the right vehicle to fit both your budget and your needs!

There are a lot of options when it comes to purchasing a used car, minivan, truck, SUV, commercial truck or work van in the greater Grand Rapids area. With so many dealerships and vehicles available, it can be tricky to know which one to choose. Before you sign on the dotted line, check out our list of 7 Items Every Used Vehicle Should Include!

Features

The amount of features available on used vehicles is seemingly endless but before you buy your next used truck, SUV, car or minivan, it’s important to decide what features are absolutely essential for your needs. Know what matters most to you and then don’t compromise if it’s essential.

Vehicle Report

It’s important to understand the history of the vehicle you are considering purchasing before you buy it in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Regardless of which kind you request, ask for a history report on the vehicle you are interested in to make sure the title is clean and it has not been involved in any major accidents you were unaware of previously. While there may be inaccuracies and mistakes, it is a good starting point to understanding the life that vehicle has lived up to that point.

Inspection

Unless a dealership has specified clearly that a vehicle has not been inspected and is being sold as is, every vehicle should have received an overall inspection from the dealership’s mechanics to make sure there are no unsafe mechanical failures or problems.

Warranty

At Broadmoor Motors, we consider it a high priority to make your vehicle purchasing experience as stress-free as possible and this doesn’t end once you leave our car lot. We at Broadmoor Motors stand behind every car on our lot, and we are willing to back that up. Each vehicle that leaves our lot is backed by our 30 Day or 3000 mile warranty. We as a dealership will cover 100% of the cost of parts and will pay 100% of the labor for the covered systems that fail during the warranty period. For a list of the parts that we as a dealership cover under our 30 Day Warranty, click here.

Test Drive

How could you possibly know if a pair of shoes fit and feel comfortable if you don’t try them on? Buying a car should certainly receive just as much care. Experts estimate that most problems car buyers experience shortly after buying a used vehicle could have been avoided with a more thorough test drive. But a recent study suggests that up to 20% of car buyers are foregoing a test drive altogether and another third only spend 10 minutes taking it for a spin before deciding it’s the right vehicle for them! When you consider that a truck, van, SUV or car is one of the priciest purchases you’ll make in your lifetime, spending a little bit of that time to get to know your prospective new car is well worth it. And while realizing the importance of a proper test drive is necessary, knowing what to do during it is even more critical. Take the vehicle you’re considering purchasing out for a spin to see how it drives, if you hear any strange noises and if it fits your personal style, preferences and handles the road.

Mechanic Lookover

This may or may not comes as a surprise but not all dealerships are looking out for your best interests. While Broadmoor Motors strongly recommends to all of our customers to have a 3rd party mechanic look over the prospective car, van, truck or SUV to make sure there are no clear issues with the vehicle that could end up costing you in the future.

Confidence

Whether you’re planning on buying a new or used car, minivan, truck or SUV, finding a trusted dealership should be on your list of non-negotiables. Regardless the vehicle you are interested in purchasing or the variety of options and features you need it to have, one thing that should always be standard is having confidence in the dealership you’ll be purchasing it from. Before you buy, you should feel comfortable that they’ll be able to deliver a reliable and safe vehicle to you and that if something does go wrong, they will stand behind their vehicle. An obvious place to start your search is with a dealership you’ve already had a positive experience working with but if the perfect vehicle is at a dealership you are unfamiliar with, we highly recommend checking online reviews from previous customers to see if there are consistent complaints or to see if the dealership worked to resolve any problems buyers reported having after a purchase. Broadmoor Motors is proud to have hundreds of positive reviews from our Wayland, Caledonia & Hastings locations from prior customers.

If you find yourself searching for your next used SUV, minvan, truck or car that comes equipped with AWD or 4WD, we invite you to check out our current inventory of Used Trucks, Vans, SUVs and Cars. At Broadmoor Motors, we specialize in finding the right used minivan, truck, SUV or car to fit your personal or business needs, all while giving you the best deal we can on both your purchase and trade in. Our family has been in the car business for over 60 years and continues to be family owned and operated in all of our Caledonia, Hastings and Wayland locations with financing available to those who qualify. We will find you the right vehicle to fit both your budget and your needs in a pressure free environment.

Let Broadmoor Motors save you time and money when buying your next quality, Pre-Owned Car, Family Minivan, All Wheel Drive SUV, Commercial Van or Work Truck. Whether you need to replace your current car, minivan, truck or SUV with a great used vehicle, we can help you out. Broadmoor Motors is here for all your Car Sales, and Auto Service needs in the Byron Center, Kentwood, Caledonia, Middleville, Hastings, greater Grand Rapids, Wayland and Barry County area. Give us a call at 616.698.9595 in Caledonia, 269.397.2400 in Wayland or 269.320.6304 in Hastings to see how we can get you back on the road!

https://broadmoormotors.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMG-LOGO-Blue-on-Clear-340x98-1-300x86.jpg00Chris Bartnickhttps://broadmoormotors.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMG-LOGO-Blue-on-Clear-340x98-1-300x86.jpgChris Bartnick2018-06-27 12:20:492018-07-14 14:22:447 Items Every Used Vehicle Should Include

Forget apple pie and baseball… is there truly anything more American than a summer road trip seeking out adventure and relaxation?? It seems unlikely. And as the summer heats up, many families are packing up the car, minivan, truck or SUV to head out on the open road in hopes to see new sights and make lasting memories with their loved ones. Whether you are leaving West Michigan in hopes for long distance travel across the USA or staying somewhere a little more local in Michigan, check out these terrific travel hacks that can help you keep your sanity and discover so much more…

Drop Pin – When you’re in a new city, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with your strange surroundings and makes it difficult to remember exactly where you parked your car. To avoid having to try and recall landmarks or street names, just drop a pin in the map on your smartphone and continue on your merry way. Plus, when you’re ready to head back to your vehicle, you can simply have your phone navigate you back to the pin!

Change – Keep $1 and $5 bills on hand in your vehicle as well as quarters (which can be kept stacked in a large prescription bottle for easier access and storage) for meters, toll roads, tipping, wishing wells… you never know.

iExit app – Have you ever needed to make a bathroom break on the highway but didn’t know how close the nearest rest stop was to your location? Or have you ever been craving a particular fast food but you weren’t sure if one was coming along in the near future? The iExit app can help you discover what’s coming up ahead before you get there!

Roadfood.com – Nothing is better than local fare when you’re traveling but how do you know what that town you’re visiting is famous for without being local? Enter Roadfood.com! This website shares the best of the best in great eats all over the country, so next time you’re in an unfamiliar town, check it out to see where you should get your grub on!

Money, Money, Money – Cash Is King but not if you forget it at home. You’d be surprised how often this actually happens! Before heading out for your next vacation, double, triple and quadruple check you have all important documents like your ID, passport, credit cards you made reservations under and any money you planned on bringing with you.

Preventative Maintenance – According to AAA, most breakdowns could have been prevented by having the vehicle serviced before even setting off on the road. Save yourself the unexpected nightmare of delays and money spent fixing mechanical issues by getting your vehicle serviced before that next big trip. While you’re at it, bring a spare battery for your key fob and/or a spare key for your vehicle to avoid becoming one of the 4 million people annually who have to call for help.

Clean Bathroom – Looking for a bathroom you’d actually want to use? Download the Sitorsquat, Where to Wee, Flush, or Bathroom Scout app to help you hear the lowdown on nearby facilities before you decide to use them.

Load Smarter – There are two kinds of people in this world… those who know how to load a vehicle and those that don’t. Make your trip easier by keeping nonessentials loaded in the back and anything that you might need access to more often, such a cooler, electronics or a bag filled with snacks nearby. Even smarter, pack a small overnight bag for hotel stops on the way including pajamas, toiletries, swimsuit, charger and your next day’s change of clothes to help avoid having to completely unload and reload all your luggage.

Food To Go – Eating in your vehicle can sure be convenient but it can be difficult to do it while moving. Utilizing a small shower caddy to hold drinks and food on your lap can help keep things tidy and allow you to use both hands to chow down. Take it a step further and fill a clean tacklebox organized with snacks to create a seamless carrying case and dining tray all in one.

Directions – Technology has made traveling easier than it ever has been before. Whether it’s a local jaunt in Grand Rapids or a larger trek, in-vehicle navigation systems and GPS directional apps on smartphones make it possible to have turn by turn directions to wherever you want to go. Which is fantastic until they lose their signal. It’s always a great idea to keep a traditional map in your vehicle as well as either downloading directions or taking screenshots of directions in case you do lose your signal.

If you want to find a reliable, safe vehicle without the hurdles you run into at other dealerships we invite you to check out our current inventory of Used Trucks, Vans, SUVs, Cars, Commercial Vans and Work Trucks. At Broadmoor Motors, we specialize in finding the right used minivan, truck, SUV or car to fit your personal or business needs, all while giving you the best deal we can on both your purchase and trade in. Our family has been in the car business for over 60 years and continues to be family owned and operated with locations in Hastings, Wayland and Caledonia. We offer financing to those who qualify and stand behind most of our vehicles with a warranty. We will find you the right vehicle to fit both your budget and your needs!

Let Broadmoor Motors save you time and money when buying your next quality, Pre-Owned Car, Family Minivan, All Wheel Drive SUV, Commercial Van or Work Truck. Whether you need to replace your current car, minivan, truck or SUV with a great used vehicle, we can help you out. Broadmoor Motors is here for all your Car Sales, and Auto Service needs in the Byron Center, Kentwood, Caledonia, Middleville, Hastings, greater Grand Rapids, Wayland and Barry County area. Give us a call at 616.698.9595 in Caledonia, 269.397.2400 in Wayland or 269.320.6304 in Hastings to see how we can get you back on the road!